Supportive testimony from the Monroe County open space coordinator and the spokeswoman for the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors wasn't enough to save the Middle Smithfield Township Environmental Advisory Committee.

DAVID PIERCE

Supportive testimony from the Monroe County open space coordinator and the spokeswoman for the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors wasn't enough to save the Middle Smithfield Township Environmental Advisory Committee.

Township supervisors voted 2-1 Thursday morning to eliminate the environmental group, following a public hearing.

Supervisor Scott Schaller said the advisory group lacks diversity, hasn't accomplished anything, and isn't needed given the scrutiny that development proposals get from township, county and state agencies.

Schaller was joined by Robert Spano Sr. in voting to eliminate the group, with Supervisor Ron Clewell voting to keep the board in place.

Advisory board chairman John Ferro said since the committee's creation in 2003, the group has created and researched the merits of proposed ordinances before the supervisors.

Ferro said the EAC held public seminars on stormwater management and landscaping, in addition to coordinating litter cleanups and recycling efforts. He said the EAC also helped the township open space committee with land acquisitions and assisted the park committee in sponsoring events.

"It seems like we are doing what we're supposed to be doing based on the ordinance and our (meeting) minutes," Ferro said. "This committee has been very, very active in the township."

Ferro said the EAC helped the township open space committee with initial research on the township's acquisition and preservation of three undeveloped land parcels.

Christine Dettore, a member of the Monroe County Planning Department and the county's open space coordinator, said creation of municipal EACs has been a major goal of the county's open space process.

"To disband a committee whose job is to assist you — we'd rather have supervisors add tools to their tool box rather than take them away," Dettore said.

Cherylann Houseman, governmental affairs coordinator for the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors, said the supervisors shouldn't eliminate a group that has generated lots of active volunteers.

"You really have a good group here that has the best interests of the township in mind," Houseman said.

Schaller questioned the motives and effectiveness of the EAC in the form of several questions directed to Dettore. He suggested that the county and township planning boards already have experts who scrutinize development proposals, so the EAC isn't needed.

SCHALLER ASKED IF the local EAC membership is balanced with a diversity of views.

"With my knowledge of who's on the EAC, yes," Dettore replied.

"From what I've seen here it is not balanced," said Schaller.

Spano directed his questions to Ferro, asking if the EAC has reported environmental violations to appropriate township officials for followup.

Ferro said the committee scrutinizes development plans to see that they comply with local ordinances for landscaping and other requirements. The EAC recently documented existing water detention basins in private communities throughout the township, he added, and reported littering violations to the township.

Schaller said many of the things Ferro took credit for on behalf of the EAC — litter cleanups and landscape beautification programs — were performed by township officials. He said the EAC presents an unnecessary duplicate review for project developers seeking local approvals.

"I think environmentally they are covered," Schaller said of developers, "and I think regulations for them are overly burdensome."

That prompted Al Decker, a member of the township park committee, to yell from the back of the audience: "Who the hell's side are you on?"

Township attorney Jennifer Wise told Decker to formally address his comments to the board, but Decker said it wouldn't do any good.

Resident Mary Williams said if the supervisors don't like the environmental committee, then they should change it rather than eliminate it.

"It's up to you to spell out what you want them to do," Williams said. "You, as a board, have the right to change that."

Schaller said it wasn't worth the effort.

"Quite frankly I don't see any substance come out at all" from the committee, he said.

Supervisor Clewell said he agrees with some of Schaller and Spano's criticisms but also recognizes positive things the EAC has done.

"I do see some progress in litter cleanup," Clewell said. "I think we need a little more harmony."